Medical examiner rules on student’s death; funeral services set

Additional counselors remained available at Tecumseh High School Thursday as funeral services were scheduled for a sophomore who was found dead Wednesday.

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By Kim Morava

The Shawnee News-Star

By Kim Morava

Posted Nov. 15, 2013 at 4:34 PM

By Kim Morava

Posted Nov. 15, 2013 at 4:34 PM

Additional counselors remained available at Tecumseh High School Thursday as funeral services were scheduled for a sophomore who was found dead Wednesday.

Tecumseh Assistant Police Chief J.R. Kidney said Thursday that police had no new updates involving the death of Brandon Roy Santino, 15.

Santino was found dead about a mile from his home Wednesday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Kidney said.

Amy Elliott, spokeswoman for the state medical examiner’s office, confirmed late Thursday afternoon that the teen’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, with manner of death officially ruled as a suicide.

Santino had been reported missing Tuesday night, which prompted a search by police and countless volunteers.

The discovery of his body Wednesday morning prompted school officials to call an assembly so students and the school family could be notified and grieve together.

The family’s last contact with Santino appeared to be through a text message he sent them about 7 p.m. Tuesday to check the score as the family was at his sister’s basketball game, Kidney said.

But when the family returned home about 9 p.m., Santino wasn’t there and a 9 mm pistol was missing from the home, Kidney said.

Police said Santino was “a good kid,” who had good grades.

He was on the Tecumseh cross country team and was active in FFA, Kidney said.

While Kidney said there’s been much speculation and rumors circulating on social media, Kidney said the Tecumseh school resource officers are continuing to look for any clues as to why the student might have taken his own life.

Information about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was posted on the THS website Wednesday. That Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Information about suicide, along with an online chat option, is also available at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Services for Santino are scheduled for 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18, at Highland Church of Christ, with burial to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17, with family gathering to meet with friends from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cooper Funeral Home in Tecumseh.